Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:36:26 -0600
Reply-To: "Dustin Robertson - Backcountry.com" <drobertson@BACKCOUNTRY.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Dustin Robertson - Backcountry.com" <drobertson@BACKCOUNTRY.COM>
Subject: Re: parts list for radiator replacement on 1988 Westy
In-Reply-To: <45FF586B.16954.33DE6672@vwdiesels.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Right on Phil your info is perfect.
It seems my radiator is losing cooling efficiency because it gets hot when I
am cruising fast like above 75 mph. Since I live in Utah and am always
camping the desert miles away from paved roads and need 100% reliability in
the cooling department.
I expect to replace the radiator all hoses and I will add to the list rubber
bushings and metal fittings in plastic pipe.
What about the fan? Seems like I should put a new fan in while everything is
out of the van no?
If you want to go into business making plastic air deflectors I would buy a
set.
Thanks,
Dustin Robertson
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Shawn Wright
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 9:44 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: parts list for radiator replacement on 1988 Westy
On 19 Mar 2007 at 15:01, Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM> wrote:
>
> Dustin,
>
> Regarding aftermarket radiators. The two aftermarket models I looked at
> (one German, one USA) had two-pass cores. The OEM VW Dealer radiator
> has a three-pass core. The price differences are considerable. Near
> $600 Canadian for the OEM Dealer one, ~ $300 for either aftermarket
> one.
> I don't have any info on the commonly supplied SA Radiators. Other
> list-members may wish to chime in here with their experiences?
>
> What I suspect is the two-pass cores will loose their cooling
> efficiency over time, sooner than the three-pass OEM Radiator. The
> aftermarket Radiators are built of lighter material and do not have the
> two band-reinforcements that run top to bottom between the top/bottom
> frame of the Radiator.
>
> I removed these reinforcements off my old one, installed onto the
> German aftermarket I purchased. Might look to replacing the bottom two
> rubber donuts the radiator sits on. The top-ones are usually Ok. Check
> the feed/return hoses between the radiator and the plastic pipes. Good
> to remove the feed/return hoses off the plastic pipes to check how
> secure the metal inserts are inside these pipes? Everywhere I found a
> "screw-type" hose-clamp (DPO), the insert was damaged and working its
> way out of the pipe! The "spring-clamp" clips that came with the Van
> were all Ok. I replaced all "screw-type" with "spring-clamp" and
> haven't had a leak..... yet!
>
> Look to rebuilding or replacing the three card-board air-deflector
> parts (bottom, left & right). NLA as far as I know and most used ones
> are as worn-out as yours and mine. I built new ones out of 1/8" HD
> Polyethylene and a heat-gun. I have more time than brains. They look
> cool though.
>
> On your reliability question? With reasonable Coolant Maintenance, I
> couldn't justify a spiffy three-pass OEM VW Dealer Radiator. I also
> don't have AC and usually avoid the Desert in the summer time. I have
> made a couple of rationalizations and compromises here too..... 8-)
>
> If cost is not an issue, go with the OEM three-pass core. At this
> price-point check your local Hot-Rod shops for custom-made racing
> radiators. Your Subie will be a cool-running cucumber under any and all
> running conditions..... Will it last longer than an average aftermarket
> Radiator?
> I dunno. The OEM one lasted 18 years, the aftermarket one has been in
> for two years. Check back in 16 years or so Dustin.... In the mean
> time... enjoy your subie powered rocket.
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the detailed account on your rad replacement. I tried to replace
mine with one
from CIP1 last year, but they sent me the wrong unit (one from a Jetta, and
I had to argue
with them over it!) Anyway, since I needed to get back on the road, I
flushed the old one, and
put it back in. So now I'm driving with the original '88 rad with nearly
400k on it, albeit well
flushed now since removing from the van and hosing it out well. I don't know
yet if it performs
any better since the flushing, since we haven't had any heat or long hills
to climb since then.
But I was wondering what prompted you to replace yours? Did it leak, or just
lose cooling
efficiency? Mine has seen lots of salt, so plenty of corrosion on the fins,
and I imagine Al
oxide won't help the heat transfer. If your replacement was for heat issues,
did you notice an
improvement with the new one? Last summer over the Rockies, I had the
coolant LED flash
with the gauge almost pegged by the time I hit the top of Rogers Pass. I am
missing the air
deflector flaps, so I should try to rebuild those too...
Thanks.
Shawn Wright
http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
'85 Jetta Diesel 1.6NA
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